Pimple-Fighting Asian Products

Breakouts.A terrifying thing girls would never like to see… or hear. What more for women who already passed the puberty stage a decade ago?! Stress, poor hygiene, poor nutrition, hormonal imbalance and lack of exercise are some of the many factors for having these blemishes ruining our beautiful faces. It is advisable to seek medical attention before it gets any worse.

A month after I arrived here in Korea, unfortunately, zits were coming out particularly on my forehead. Those reddish, pesky pimples and several cystic acne just kept on multiplying even if there wasn’t enough space anymore. Believe me. I didn’t want to face the public especially in front of those flawless, fair-skinned women out there. At least now, I’m only getting them occasionally (PMS or too much oil on my diet). It was probably because my skin was adjusting to the new environment, they said. So, Danny and I went to see one of the well-known dermatologists in Dongjak District, according to him. LOL. The clinic is quite big and looks clean and organized. The doctor took about 10 minutes to examine and prescribed me an ointment which I had to apply every night. Another option was to take an oral medicine. I refused to do so ’cause I wish to get pregnant and give birth to a healthy baby someday even though that idea still scares me. They also suggested for a facial treatment which costed ₩100,000 (around ₱5,000) per session. I also refused that ’cause I’m aware that one session isn’t enough. I religiously applied the medicine each night until 3 weeks later, I seemed to notice that there was a tiny to no improvement at all. So, I became impatient and gave up with the ointment. I changed the bed sheets, pillow cases, laundry detergent, shampoo, conditioner, every cleansing and skin care products (even cotton) that I was using. Whatever works, I thought.

Today, as promised (written here), I’m gonna share to you some of the products manufactured in Japan and Korea that helped a lot treat my breakouts. But first, a basic overview of my skin is I have a combination skin type, an oily T-zone and the rest is normal to slightly dry. Often times, it depends on the weather.

Senka Perfect Whip Foam

Price: ₩8,900

This is a product of Japan’s Shisheido. A peanut-sized amount could go a long way, just lather it for few minutes and boom! It’ll become a thick foam that could cover the entire face. My sister-in-law actually recommended for me to purchase this product but as always, I read reviews before buying anything. Some say that this is too harsh for the skin especially for the dry skin type since the pH value of this cleanser is 8. True or not, this product reduced the size of my pimples and lessen the sebum production after months of using. It leaves my skin a soft feeling after washing, too. I’m currently using my 2nd bottle.

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Toner

Price: ₩18,000

I’ve read tons of reviews about Korean toners for oily skin and one of those is the Jeju Volcanic line from Innisfree. According to the description, it is enriched with volcanic cluster and green complex from Jeju Island. It also controls the sebum production leaving the skin smooth and healthy. One thing I dislike about this toner is I have to shake it well before using it.

Facial Mask

Prices:

pre-packed cotton masks – ₩1,000 to ₩5,000

Nature Republic Bamboo Charcoal Mud Pack – ₩6,600

Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask – ₩12,000

For the ingredient-conscious:

A typical skin care regimen requires the use of facial mask once or twice a week. I like to use any kind of mask but, my favorite is Nature Republic’s bamboo charcoal mud pack. How to use: Apply an appropriate amount on a clean face and leave it for 10 minutes until it dries up. Then, rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Sometimes, I get tempted to use a whitening mask but, I have been discouraged by my dermatologist unless the pimple dries up or leaves scars. The recommended masks for active pimples should contain green tea, tea tree, aloe or cucumber to help soothe the redness.

Acne Patch

Prices:

Skinfood – ₩3,300 (24 patches)

Missha – ₩3,500 (96 patches)

Nexcare – ₩6,000 (64 patches)

For me, acne patches are the fastest way to get rid those stubborn pimples. I usually apply them on pimples with white head before sleeping, and in the morning I could see a huge white dot under the patches. In 3 days, the pimples flatten and don’t leave scars.

If you’re having the same kind of problem, don’t get stress over it, eat right, keep yourself hydrated with water, get enough sleep, never prick those pimples, clean your face thoroughly, do some exercise and see a dermatologist as much as possible. I’m not a beauty guru. This is based on my personal experience and honest opinion only. I cannot guarantee that these products can have the same effects to you. However, if you find this post helpful, I’d be glad to hear your thoughts by commenting below. Thanks for reading!

Note: This is not a sponsored post. All products were purchased by me.

In the US, Korean beauty products are starring to show up in all kinds of drug stores and make up stores! I haven’t seen the ones you posted yet, but thanks for sharing 🙂 definitely helpful if I ever get a chance to visit Korea and bring some back hehe